Florida A&M University President Resigns Amid Backlash

Florida A&M College is experiencing a shake-up simply weeks earlier than the 2024-2025 faculty 12 months is ready to start. The establishment’s beloved president, Dr. Larry Robinson, lately introduced his plans to step down and wrote a resignation letter. The information comes after the college President got here underneath fireplace for a number of causes through the previous faculty 12 months together with that $237M donation scandal. 

The college’s board of trustees was alerted of Robinson’s resignation on Friday, July twelfth. The board’s chair, Kristin Harper, launched an announcement on behalf of the board to the College’s official web site.

“We now have achieved exceptional positive aspects and record-breaking years underneath President Robinson’s management,” she said per FAMU.Edu. “I’m honored to have served with fellow trustees alongside our president. His love for FAMU, regular management, and unwavering dedication to our college students’ success will go away an indelible mark on this college’s historical past.”

Robinson started his tenure as FAMU’s president in 2016 when he was appointed interim president. He was then introduced to tackle the complete position in 2017. Throughout his time because the establishment’s chief, he drastically modified the college’s status. After the tense tenure of former FAMU president Elmira Mangum, Robinson was decided to refocus the college’s targets.

In response to the Tallahassee Democrat, throughout Robinson’s tenure, FAMU was named the No. 1 HBCU for 5 consecutive years. The college additionally broke into the High 100 nationwide public universities. Nonetheless, towards the top of his seven-year tenure, Robinson skilled just a few blows.

Why Is Dr. Robinson Resigning?

Months earlier than Robinson handed in his resignation letter, the FAMU president got here underneath fireplace for the acceptance of a big donation. Hemp farmer Gregory Gerami supplied the college a $237 million donation to the college. The donation was set to be the biggest in HBCU historical past. But, FAMU alumni and the board turned skeptical of the massive reward and its donor.

The board of trustees additionally claims they have been unnoticed of the choice to simply accept the donation. In distinction, Robinson and people aware about the donation state they signed a non-disclosure settlement, stopping them from disclosing sure particulars in regards to the donation.

Gerami was invited to talk at FAMU’s 2024 graduation, the place he introduced the donation. In response to the Tallahassee Democrat, this was Harper’s first time listening to of the donation. As Gerami and his enterprise, Batterson Farms Company, have little or no on-line presence, many turned involved with the hefty donation and the way it got here to be. The reward is now on maintain and underneath investigation.

Credential Controversy

Along with the donation debacle, the Florida Board of Governors is more and more involved in regards to the faculty’s efficiency. In June 2024, it was reported that the college’s licensure examination charges didn’t meet requirements. These licensure packages embody FAMU’s legislation, nursing, pharmacy, and bodily remedy colleges.

Solely 41% of the legislation faculty’s college students handed the bar examination on their first try in 2023, 39% under the 80% aim. The nursing faculty falls in need of the 90% move charge by 7%, whereas the bodily remedy faculty falls in need of the 92% aim by 13%. The Faculty of Pharmacy can be in bother, falling 22% under its aim 92% move charge.

Due to their low move charges and failure to satisfy targets over the past 5 years, the Florida Board of Governors chair, Alan Levine, has threatened to finish the packages.

“I’m ready to vote to take these packages away if we will’t do it the suitable method,” Levine said per The Tallahassee Democrat. “It is a disservice to these college students and to the taxpayers who’re paying for this, and the outcome they’re getting is they will’t move their boards to go observe what they went to high school for.”

As for Dr. Robinson, he plans to stay president so long as the board wants him. His official resignation date remains to be pending. As soon as he formally resigns, he intends to take a 12-month sabbatical after which return as a professor within the Faculty of Setting.